Automatic feeding device

ABSTRACT

A feeding device for the automatic feeding and watering of cats, dogs and the like. The feeding device includes a food container having a plurality of individual food storage compartments mounted on a delivery chute for delivering food from each compartment to a feeding pan upon selectively opening of closure members normally closing the respective compartments. The feeding device also includes a watering device comprising a water storage container and a valve operably connected to the water storage container and a watering pan for supplying water from the container to the watering pan on demand.

Unite States atet Depenthal et a1.

Jan. 1, 1974 1 AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Inventors: Fritz Depenthal, 6506W. 66th St.,

Overland Park; Karl M. Swartz, 6034 Windsor Dr., Shawnee Mission, bothof Kans. 66202 Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 Appl. No.: 290,011

[52] US. Cl ..l19/5l.l3,1l9/51.14,ll9/5l.5, 119/78 [51] Int. Cl AOlk5/02 [58] Field of Search ll9/5l.5, 51.13, ll9/51.l4, 78; 220/70 [56]References Cited UNZTED STATES PATENTS 3,171,385 3/1965 Decker et a1.119/5l.5 X

3,658,036 4/1972 Caracappa ll9/5l.13 2,719,509 10/1955 Kitson 119/78 X3,683,859 8/1972 Kirk. 119/51.13

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. EskovitzAtt0rneyClaude A. Fishburn et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A feeding device for the automatic feeding and watering ofcats, dogs and the like. The feeding device includes a food containerhaving a plurality of individual food storage compartments mounted on adelivery chute for delivering food from each compartment to a feedingpan upon selectively opening of closure members normally closing therespective compartments. The feeding device also includes a wateringdevice comprising a water storage container and a valve 0perablyconnected to the water storage container and a watering pan forsupplying water from the container to the watering pan on demand.

8 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 I974 sum '3 BF 4 AUTOMATICFEEDING DEVICE The principal objects of the present invention are: toprovide a feeding device for pets and the like which automatically andat regular feeding times dispenses selected or normally required amountof food; to provide such a feeding device with a multiple compartmentfood storage bin and means to selectively open each compartment atselected intervals of time to dispense the food therein; to provide sucha feeder with a timing device operable to open storage chambers atselected intervals for the unattended dispensing of the food; to providesuch a feeder with a delivery chute that has no moving parts providingpositive and virtually fool proof gravity flow for the distribution offeed to a bowl or pan; to provide such a feeder with a bowl or pan forwater and a supply to maintain the level therein; to provide such afeeder with a water storage container that will hold a sufficientquantity of water to supply an animals needs for several days; toprovide such a feeder with a float valve to let water into the bowl fromthe storage container to replenish the water consumed; to provide such afeeder with means to connect the float valve directly to a water flowsource to eliminate the need for filling the water storage container;and to provide such a feeder that is compact, has a minimum of parts, isportable and that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the feeding device.

FIG. 2 is a sectioned perspective view of the feeding device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the food storage bin, slide memberand timer actuating means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectioned view of the watering means showingdetails of the valve means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side section view showing details of the wateringmeans.-

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein,however, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in many forms that aredifferent from the illustrative embodiments presented herewith.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims actually defining the scope of this invention.

The reference numeral 1 designates generally a feeding device or feederfor the automatic feeding and watering of cats, dogs and the like. Thefeeder 1 includes a mounting member or bracket 2 having a dispensingmeans 4 suitably supported thereon with a food storage bin or hopper 5associated with the dispensing means. Timer actuating means 7 areoperable to release feed from the bin 5 at timed intervals allowing thefeed to be delivered through the dispensing means 4 to a feed receivingreceptacle positioned below the dispensing means 4. Water storage meansare associated with the mounting member 2 and are operably connected-toa water receiving receptacle to maintain a water level therein. The feedand water receiving receptacles are portions of a pan 9.

The mounting member 2 is adapted for mounting on a suitable supportstructure such as a wall or the like suitable to hold said member 2 in agenerally upright position. The mounting member 2 is a form of basehousing and as illustrated has a front wall 11 generally rectangular inshape, an upper or top wall 12 and side walls 13 and 14 extending fromthe front wall 11 and terminating in outwardly extending top and sideflanges 15 and 16 respectively. In the structure shown, the mountingmember 2 is a pan like structure with an open back and bottom and theflanges 15 and 16 have a plurality of apertures for receiving securingdevices (not shown) such as screws to secure the mounting member 2 to asuitable support structure such as a wall. In the illustrated structure,the mounting member has various portions and operations for cooperatingwith other portions of the feeder and assembly thereof as laterdescribed.

The feed delivery means 4 preferably is comprised of a front wall 17 andside walls 18 forming a three sided chute having an open back and issuitably supported by the mounting member 2. In the illustratedstructure, the chute 4 is removably mounted on the mounting member 2 andis supported thereby. Engaging lugs 19 are integral with side walls 18adjacent to the upper edge of the chute 4 and are on the rear most edgeof the respective wall 18, each lug 19 having an ear 21 extendingtherefrom in opposed relation. Engaging lugs 22 are integral with therear most edges of the respective side walls 18 and are positionedadjacent to the lower edges of the side wall 18, each lug 22 having anear 23 extending downwardly therefrom. The lugs 19 and 22 are insertedinto their respective apertures 25 that are through the front wall 11.The cars 21 and 23 extend through the apertures 25 and engage the backside of the front wall 11, thereby removably securing the chute 4 to themounting member 2. When the chute 4 is secured to the mounting member 2,the front wall 11 forms the back side or wall of the chute 4. The rearmost edge of each side wall 18 has a tapered portion adjacent the lowerend of the chute 4 that corresponds to a raised portion 20 that has atapered surface 24 engaging same when mounted. Preferably, the frontwall 17 and one side wall 18 slope inwardly and converge downwardly to alower edge of the walls 17 and 18 forming an outlet opening that issmaller than an inlet opening defined by the upper edges of the wall 17and 18. The front wall 17 and the sloping side wall 18 each havinggenerally upright portions extending downwardly from the upper edgesthereof providing clearance for portions of the food storage bin 5.

The food storage bin 5 in the illustrated structure includes a pluralityof food storage containers 26 that each have a discharge opening 27positioned such that they are adjacent to the inlet of the chute 4 fordischarge of feed therein. Preferably the food storage bin 5 is agenerally rectangular box sized so as to fit in the inlet opening of thechute 4 and be appropriately supported thereby. One method of supportingthe bin 5 would be to have integral ribs 28 on opposite end walls of thebin 5 that are adapted to engage and be supported by the upper edges ofthe side walls 18. The

' food storage containers 26 in the illustrated structure arerectangularly shaped and are positioned in two adjacent rows on oppositesides of the center partition 29 that extends the length of the bin 5.The food storage containers 26 are sized large enough to hold enoughfeed for one feeding and are of a sufficient quantity, as for example 6,to allow long periods of unattended feeding. A plurality of closuremembers or doors 30 are hingedly secured to the bin as at 31 wherebyeach door 30 is positioned adjacent to the discharge opening 27 of arespective food storage container 26 normally closing same. The hinges31, preferably are integral with both the respective door 30 and theside wall of the bin 5 and can be formed when the bin 5 and the door 30are molded as a single unit, the hinges 31 being thin portions offlexible material between same. Preferably the bin 5 is mounted on thechute 4, whereby a rib 32 and the upright portions of the walls 17 and18 of the chute 4 provides spacing for the doors 30 adjacent thereto toallow same to swing open without interference.

The feeder l is provided with means that selectively hold the doors 30in a closed position for maintaining the feed in the food storagecontainers 26. Numerous devices can be used for this purposes and onedevice is shown in the illustrated structure wherein a slide member orbar 33 is slidably mounted on the bin and selectively supports the doors30 by engaging a lug or abutment member 34 secured to each door 30.Timing means 7 are associated with the bar 33 and are operable to movesame from supporting relation of the lugs 34 to allow the doors 30 tosequentially open. The bar 33 can be one of various configurations solong as movement thereof sequentially moves same from supportingrelation of the doors 30. Preferably the bar 33 is I-shaped and ismounted in and is supported by shoulders of a T-shaped slot 35 thatopens downwardly and extends the length of the bin 5 and is positionedunder the center partition 29. When the bin 5 is mounted on the chute 4an open end of the T-shaped slot 35 corresponds to a notch 41 thatextends through a side wall 18 of the chute 4. A lower flange 36 of thebar 33 extends below the bottom of the bin 5 and has a plurality ofspaced apart lug receiving slots or openings 37 therethrough that arepositioned along both side edges of the flange 36 such that an incrementof movement of the bar 33 will move a respective slot 37 to a positionof registry with a respective lug 34. The lugs 34 each can thensequentially move through a respective slot 37 and by moving the bar 33further the lugs 34 engage an upper surface or member 38 of the flange36 and are supported thereby holding the doors 30 in a closed position.With the bin 5 mounted on the chute 4, incremental movement of the bar33 is effected by the timing means 7 sequentially allows each door 30 tohinge downwardly and open the food container 26 to discharge the feedinto the chute 4. The notch 41 provides an opening for the bar 33 tomove through so that it can move beyond the edge of the bin 5 withoutinterferring with the chute 4. It is desirable to provide the foodstorage bin 5 with a suitable cover 39 to seal the upper open endthereof from the entry of water or other foreign matter. In theillustrated structure, the cover 39 is supported by a ridge 40 adajcentto the top of the food storage bin 5 and positioned around the insideperiphery thereof.

The timing means 7 includes a timer 43 operably associated with the bar33 for incrementally moving same at preselected time intervals.Preferably the timer 43 is electrically powered and in operation makesone revolution per 24 hours. In the illustrated structure, the timer 43is suitably mounted in a recess 44 on a back surface 45 thereof and anelongate member or bar 46 has a disc portion 47 secured to one endthereof, the disc portion 47 having serrations corresponding toserrations on an exposed face of the timer 43 so as to be engageabletherewith. With these serrations engaged the timer 43 can rotate themember 46. The bar 33 has a lower surface 48 that has a plurality ofshoulder forming portions 49 such as teeth that extend downwardlytherefrom and are operable to engage a member or tooth 50, secured tothe member 46, in response to timer 43 and member 46 rotation. The tooth50 extends from the member 46 generally normal to the longitudinal axisthereof and is positioned along the member 46 so as to sequentiallyengage the shoulder form ing portions 49 with the bin 5 mounted on thechute 4 as previously described. The end of the member 46 opposite thedisc portion 47 is rotatably mounted on the chute 4 such as by having apin or projection 52 secured thereto and extending therefrom and into anaperture 53, the pin 52 being smaller in cross section than the member46 so as to form a shoulder 51. The aperture 53 preferably is comprisedof a large portion with a slot extending therefrom. The enlarged portionis larger in cross section than the member 46 and the slot has a widthsmaller than the cross section of the member 46 and larger than the pin52. The pin 52 extends through the slot whereby the shoulder 51 engagesthe back side of the wall 17 thereby holding the serrations inengagement. In order to disengage the serrations, the pin 52 ifforceably moved between two projections 54 that extend into the slot tosecure the pin 52 therein. This movement registers the member 46 withthe enlarged portion whereby the member 46 can be moved therethroughthereby disengaging the serrations allowing changing of the desiredfeeding time.

Rotation of the member 46 by the timer 43 moves the tooth 50 intoengagement with a shoulder forming portion 49 effecting incrementalmovement of the bar 33 and each subsequent rotation of the member 46effects subsequent incremental movement of the bar 33. Each incrementalmovement of the bar 33 moves a slot 37 in registry with a lug 34 so thatthe lug 34 may move through the respective slot 37 allowing therespective door 30 to swing downwardly and release the feed contained inthe food storage container 26 as previously described. Means areprovided to slow the rate or velocity of the falling feed through thechute 4 such as baffle members 55 appropriately secured in the interiorof the chute 4. Preferably, the baffles 55 are staggered along thelength of the chute 4 and have overlapped free ends and opposed downwardslopes whereby when the feed is discharged from a container 26 it slidesdown the upper baffle 55 onto the lower baffle 55 and out the outlet ofthe chute 4.

The pan 9 is suitably mounted on and supported by the mounting member 2and has a feed receiving receptacle 56 at one end thereof positionedunder the outlet of the chute 4. The feed receiving receptacle 56 isspaced from the outlet a sufficient distance so as to prevent the chute4 from interferring with access to the feed receiving receptacle 56 by apet. When the pan 9 is mounted on the mounting member 2, a shoulder isformed therebetween. The raised portion 20 and the sloping walls 17 and18 of the chute 4 deflect the falling feed outwardly of this shoulderand into the feed reby inserting the lug 59 into the slot securing thepan 9 thereto. A shoulder may be provided on the lug 59 to more securelymount the pan 9 on the mounting member 2.

The water storage means are suitably supported by the mounting member 2and are operable to control the water level in a water receivingreceptacle 60 associated therewith. Although the water storage means canbe mounted on the mounting member in several positions, the illustratedstructure shows it as being mounted on the back side of the front wall11.

Preferably, the water receiving receptacle 60 is at the opposite end ofthe pan 9 from the feed receiving receptacle 56 or it can also be aseperate unit secured to the mounting member 2. As illustrated, thewater storage means includes a water storage receptacle and valve meanscommunicating therewith and with said water receiving receptacle 60controlling the water level in the water receiving receptacle 60 inresponse to a decrease in the water level. The water storage receptacleis comprised of an elongate rectangular tube 61 extending downwardlythrough a rectangular hole 63, the lower end thereof being suitablysecured in sealed relation to a float valve container cover 64, aportion of which forms a bottom for the tube 61. The valve meanspreferably is a float valve that includes a hollow seat member 65 thatis integral with the cover 64 and has an upper portion of the interiorthereof threaded and has a lower portion of the seat member 65 extendingdownwardly from the cover 64 and has downwardly converging inner andouter surfaces forming a reduced size outlet. A valve arm 66 ispivotally secured to mounting members 67 that are integral with thelower surface of the cover 64. In the example illustrated, the valve arm66 is provided with a float member 68 secured thereto adjacent the endopposite the pivotally mounted end, the float member 68 being adapted tofloat in water. The arm 66 includes a resilient seal member 63 suitablysecured thereto and positioned along the arm 66 so as to engage theoutlet of the seat member 65 for selectively sealing same in response tothe water level in the water receiving receptacle 60 reaching apredetermined level. The tube 61, cover 64 and valve arm 66 are mountedon a float valve container 70 that forms an enclosed compartment withthe valve arm 66 enclosed therein. Preferably the container 70 has aridge extending around the inner periphery adjacent to the open endthereof whereby the cover 64 engages same and is supported thereby.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container 70 has integral mountingmembers 71 extending from one side thereof and are received throughslots 73 that extend through the wall 11 to provide mounting support forthe container 70 which in turn provides support for the tube 61 and thecover 64 mounted on the container 70.

With the mounting members 71 inserted into the slots 73 the container 70has a round projection on one wall thereof extending into an aperture 74that is through the front wall 11. The round projection has a threadedhole 75 extending therethrough and is in aligned relation with theaperture 74 and an aperture 80 that extends through the back wall of thewater receiving receptacle 60. A hollow connector 76 threadably engagesthe hole 75 and extends through the apertures 80 and 74 having a headportion engaging the interior surface of the water receiving receptacle60. When the connector 76 is tightened, the float valve container 70 isurged into engagement with the back surface of the front wall 11 andsecures the mounting members 71 in their respective slots 73. Preferablya seal member 77 is mounted on the hollow connector 76 and is positionedbetween the back side of the pan 9 and the round projection on thecontainer 70 sealably engaging same to provide a leak proof connectiontherebetween. The hollow connector 76 provides a conduit for water flowfrom the container 70 to the water receiving receptacle 60. The waterstorage receptacle is sized to hold enough water for a pet for severaldays supply.

Although enough water may be stored in the water storage receptacle tosupply a pets needs for several days, it may be desired to provide thewatering means with means to directly connect same to a pressurizedwater system such as the household water system rather than fill thetube 61 with water by hand. A tubular member 81 has one end threaded andthreadably engages the threaded portion of the hollow member 65, theother end of the tubular member 81 has a coupling suitable forconnecting the tubular member 81 to the pressurized water system. Acover 78 is adapted to be mounted in the opening of the rectangular tube61 and has an aperture therethrough providing an access opening for thetubular member 81 -to extend through. The cover 78 seals the tube 61from the entry of undesirable foreign matter.

In operation, the doors are closed and the bar 33 is moved to hold thedoors 3th in the closed position as described above. The desired numberof food storage containers 26 are filled with suitable dry or semi-dryfeed in the sequence that the doors 30 open on incremental movement ofthe bar 33. Before mounting the food storage bin 5 on the chute 4, thetimer is set at the desired feeding time by disengaging the serrationsas previously discussed and moving an indicator 79 to the number ofhours that it is desired to slapse before the first feeding time andthen the bar 46 is locked into position to maintain engagement betweenthe serrations. The indicator 79 is scribed or marked on the surface ofthe disc portion 47 and points radially in the same direction as thetooth to indicate its rotative position. The food storage bin 5 is thenappropriately mounted on the chute 4 and the cover 39 is installed toprevent water or other matter from entering the food container 26. Thetube 61 is filled with water or the float valve is connected to apressurized water system and the cover 78 is installed thereon. Waterflows from the tube 61 through the hollow seat member 65 into thecontainer 70 and the water receiving receptacle until a predeterminedlevel is reached, whereby the float causes the seal member 69 to moveupwardly and engage the seat member thereby sealing the outlet andshutting off the water flow. Water flow remains shut off until the waterlevel in the water receiving receptacle 60 and container becomes lowenough to allow the seal member 69 to disengage the seat member 65thereby allowing the water to flow again until the water reaches thepredetermined level. When the time set on the timer 43 has clasped, thetooth 50 engages the first shoulder forming portion 49 moving the bar 33to a position at which a lug 46 registers with its respective lugreceiving slot 37 and moves therethrough allowing the door 30 to swingopen thereby releasing the feed in the respective food storage container26. The feed therein falls through the chute 4 over the baffles 55 aspreviously described and out the chute outlet into the feed receivingreceptacle. Each subsequent revolution of the timer 43 willincrementally move the bar to a. other position whereby a subsequent lug34 registers with its respective slot 37 permitting its respective door30 to open and release the feed therein. The feeding process repeatsitself until all containers 26 are empty thereby allowing a person tofeed his pet daily even though he is not present.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and describedcertain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specificform or arrangement of parts herein shown.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A feeding devicefor pets comprising:

a. a mounting member having an upper portion and a lower portion;

b. a feed receiving receptacle positioned adjacent said mounting memberlower portion;

c. a food storage bin having a plurality of food storage containers,said containers each having a bottom discharge opening and being adaptedto hold feed for one feeding period;

(1. closure members normally closing said discharge openings to retainfeed in said containers;

e. means associated with said closure members and operable forsequentically releasing same to discharge feed from a respectivecontainer;

f. a chute supported on said mounting member upper portion and havingmeans forming an upwardly open end, and

g. means removably supporting said bin adjacent said chute open end withsaid discharge openings communicating into said chute, said chutereceiving the feed from said containers and directing same to said feedreceiving receptacle.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid sequentiallyreleasing means includes:

a. slide means operably associated with said bin having portions thereofin supporting engagement with said closure members, said slide meansbeing movable from supporting engagement of said closure members wherebysame are sequentially opened;

b. timer means supported by said mounting member and having a portionthereof engageable with por tions of said slide means and operable formoving same, said timer means and said bin being separable when removingsaid bin from said chute open end.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding deviceincludes:

wherein:

a. said closure members include doors;

b. hinge members operably connected to said food storage bin and eachsupporting one of said doors adjacent the respective discharge openingwhereby said doors are swingable downwardly from a closed position to anopen position, each of said doors having an abutment portion spaced froma respective hinge member;

c. said slide means including a slide member mounted on said binadjacent said abutment portions whereby said slide member is movablelinearly;

(1. said slide member having a plurality of engaging surfaces normallysupporting said doors, said engaging surfaces being arranged relative tothe selective abutment portions for engagement therewith and for movingfrom supporting relation therewith in response to a predeterminedmovement of said slide member, thereby allowing a respective door toswing to said open position.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bin supportingmeans includes:

a. upwardly facing edges on the upper open end of said chute; and

b. rib member projecting outwardly from said bin, said ribs beingoperable to engage said chute upper edges for removably supporting saidfood storage bin on said chute.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including:

a. baffles secured in the interior of said chute and having spaced apartand overlapping edges and opposed downward slopes for deflecting thefeed to slow the rate of fall through said chute.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said slide means portions comprise spaced shoulders, and

b. said timer means includes a timer and means operably associated withsaid timer and selectively engaging said shoulders for sequentiallymoving said slide means linearly in response to timer actuation.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

a. said means operably associated with said timer includes a rotatingshaft and a shoulder supported by said shaft and rotating therewith.

1. A feeding device for pets comprising: a. a mounting member having anupper portion and a lower portion; b. a feed receiving receptaclepositioned adjacent said mounting member lower portion; c. a foodstorage bin having a plurality of food storage containers, saidcontainers each having a bottom discharge opening and being adapted tohold feed for one feeding period; d. closure members normally closingsaid discharge openings to retain feed in said containers; e. meansassociated with said closure members and operable for sequenticallyreleasing same to discharge feed from a respective container; f. a chutesupported on said mounting member upper portion and having means fOrmingan upwardly open end, and g. means removably supporting said binadjacent said chute open end with said discharge openings communicatinginto said chute, said chute receiving the feed from said containers anddirecting same to said feed receiving receptacle.
 2. The structure asset forth in claim 1 wherein said sequentially releasing means includes:a. slide means operably associated with said bin having portions thereofin supporting engagement with said closure members, said slide meansbeing movable from supporting engagement of said closure members wherebysame are sequentially opened; b. timer means supported by said mountingmember and having a portion thereof engageable with portions of saidslide means and operable for moving same, said timer means and said binbeing separable when removing said bin from said chute open end.
 3. Thestructure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding device includes:a. a water receiving receptacle supported by said mounting memberadjacent said lower portion thereof; b. a water storage receptacleassociated with said mounting member; c. a float valve communicatingbetween said water receiving receptacle and said water storagereceptacle and being operable in response to water level in said waterreceiving receptacle.
 4. The structure device as set forth in claim 2wherein: a. said closure members include doors; b. hinge membersoperably connected to said food storage bin and each supporting one ofsaid doors adjacent the respective discharge opening whereby said doorsare swingable downwardly from a closed position to an open position,each of said doors having an abutment portion spaced from a respectivehinge member; c. said slide means including a slide member mounted onsaid bin adjacent said abutment portions whereby said slide member ismovable linearly; d. said slide member having a plurality of engagingsurfaces normally supporting said doors, said engaging surfaces beingarranged relative to the selective abutment portions for engagementtherewith and for moving from supporting relation therewith in responseto a predetermined movement of said slide member, thereby allowing arespective door to swing to said open position.
 5. The structure as setforth in claim 1 wherein said bin supporting means includes: a. upwardlyfacing edges on the upper open end of said chute; and b. rib memberprojecting outwardly from said bin, said ribs being operable to engagesaid chute upper edges for removably supporting said food storage bin onsaid chute.
 6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including: a.baffles secured in the interior of said chute and having spaced apartand overlapping edges and opposed downward slopes for deflecting thefeed to slow the rate of fall through said chute.
 7. The structure asset forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said slide means portions comprisespaced shoulders, and b. said timer means includes a timer and meansoperably associated with said timer and selectively engaging saidshoulders for sequentially moving said slide means linearly in responseto timer actuation.
 8. The structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a.said means operably associated with said timer includes a rotating shaftand a shoulder supported by said shaft and rotating therewith.